Norway study finds rutting season hunting does not impact moose reproduction

A study conducted by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and the consultancy Faun has found no evidence that hunting during the moose rutting season negatively impacts reproduction or calf health.

Researchers analyzed data from over 200 Norwegian municipalities between 1992 and 2023, comparing areas with different hunting regulations, including those that had pauses during the rutting period and those that allowed hunting throughout. While there has been a documented decline in both the weight of moose calves and the proportion of cows observed with calves across much of Norway, the study suggests this is not caused by hunting disturbances.

In fact, the decline in calf weight and numbers was most significant in municipalities where hunting during the rutting period was minimal or non-existent. Senior researcher Erling Johan Solberg stated, “We have not found anything to suggest that the timing of the hunt is linked to the changes in the number of calves and the weight of the calves,” noting that the biological drive during the rutting season appears to override hunting disturbances.